Lucknow News Roundup | Awadh Expressway to be ready by June, temp to drop in next 48 hrs & more

As 2024 comes to a close, Lucknow residents are embracing a fresh start with new resolutions and hopes for 2025. The city remains buzzing with energy and several noteworthy developments. From a record-breaking footfall at the Lucknow Zoo on January 1 to the state administration's plans to enhance the capital's transport infrastructure, here is an overview of the key updates from Lucknow today:

Lucknow’s Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden witnessed an overwhelming footfall of 17,630 visitors on January 1, marking a lively start to the New Year. Despite a late sunrise, tourists began lining up at the gates early in the morning, resulting in traffic congestion stretching nearly 500 meters around the main entrance until evening.

The administration reported a festive atmosphere throughout the day, with the zoo becoming the city’s prime destination for celebrating the first day of 2025.

In a bid to enhance road safety, the state administration has decided to cancel the driving licenses of vehicle owners with multiple challans. The decision was announced during a recent meeting of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Safety Council, emphasizing the need for stricter traffic management, particularly in light of the upcoming Mahakumbh.

With this, schools and colleges across the state have also been instructed to organize road safety awareness programs from January 6 to 10. These initiatives will involve students in activities such as plays, music, poetry, essays, seminars, speeches and general knowledge competitions, all aimed at promoting adherence to traffic rules.

A new bus service named 'Shaheed Express,' in honor of Siachen martyr Captain Anshuman Singh, has been introduced, connecting Lucknow to Deoria. The service was introduced on January 1 by the Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge).

The new bus service will operate daily, departing from Alambagh, Lucknow, at 10:30 am and reaching Bardiha Bus Station on Deoria Road via Gorakhpur by 8:30 pm.

The return journey will commence from Bardiha at 7:00 am, arriving in Lucknow by 4:30 pm. Covering a distance of 406 kilometers, the fare for the journey is ₹585. Future plans include extending the service to Kanpur based on demand.

The ambitious Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway (Awadh Expressway) is on track for completion by June this year. Spanning 63 kilometres, the six-lane expressway will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 45 minutes.

Currently, 75% of the construction is complete, with a 45-kilometer six-lane stretch from Bani to Unnao nearing completion. The expressway will also connect 14 villages along its route, further enhancing regional connectivity.

Officials highlight that the project will not only save time but also provide a significant boost to tourism, trade and logistics in the region.

Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top performer in the country for online (faceless) transport services. The state’s transport department has successfully digitized 49 services, allowing residents to complete tasks related to driving licenses and vehicles without visiting RTO offices.

The UP Transport Department's website offers a wide range of services, including new DL applications, DL renewals, challan payments, and more, all accessible from the comfort of residents' homes. Efforts to digitise additional services are underway to enhance convenience further.

IMD has issued a cold alert for Uttar Pradesh, with temperatures expected to drop over the next 48 hours. Western disturbances are set to impact the region from January 4 or 5, bringing cold north-western winds from snow-covered mountains to the plains.

Currently, Lucknow is experiencing daytime sunlight, but temperatures are dropping during the late hours with cold winds. Night temperatures across Lucknow and other parts of the state have already begun to fall. With winds blowing at speeds of 20 to 22 km/h, temperatures are expected to continue decreasing, and the chill will intensify during the coming days.